Saturday, February 20, 2010

Congratulations to Kate Flannery on her recent appearance on E!'s Chelsea Lately. A staple on NBC's The Office, Kate also appears monthly in The Lampshades, which she mentioned during her interview with Chelsea Handler. Kate also used her appearance on the late night talk show to announce a new role as Harper's mom on Wizards of Wavery Place. Way to rock it, Kate!

Monday, February 15, 2010

As you can see from the below posts, Team Cool Kids, Ethan Newberry and Lindsay Harbert of Fairfax Prep, have already been up in Vancouver for five (going on six) days. We've been running around like mad, and taking in everything this glorious city and the 2010 Olympic Games have to offer, and let me say, they have not disappointed.

We will be here until March 1st, and will be blogging, vlogging and posting pictures like crazy. You can keep up with us here, on the Samsung Mobile Explorers Site, and on their Facebook Page. The Facebook page is where you can go to watch our challenge videos and vote! You can also follow Team Cool Kids on Twitter @TeamCoolKids

The first challenge has already come and gone, and guess what? We won! We're not for a second going to get cocky though. The competition is fierce. Check out challenge #2 when it's posted tonight at 9PM PST. We worked our butts off, and I hope you all enjoy.

Today we'll be attending the men's speed skating finals as our prize for winning the first challenge, and we're both so excited. Stay tuned for more adventures as they happen. We never know what tomorrow is going to bring, but we'll be sure to share once we take it in!

Also, be sure to check out our boys in Fairfax Prep Tuesdays at 11 on the iO West Mainstage! We're missing them and iO West, but we know everyone is over there bringing the funny!

Team Cool Kids, Ethan Newberry and Lindsay Harbert (of iO West Mainstage team Fairfax Prep) take on their first full day of exploring Vancouver and the karaoke the city has to offer

Day two is winding down, and even though it hasn't even been 24 hours since our last blog entry, today was so jam packed it feels like a year ago.

Although we both stayed up late editing and blogging, we woke up early once again to get a head start on the day. Breakfast was delicious, albeit brief, and we soon found ourselves meeting with our fellow USA Samsung Mobile Explorers to find out what the day ahead of us had to bring.

It seemed simple enough, we would meet with the MSN representatives to film some spots for their promotional videos, wrap by 2:00 PST, and have the rest of the day open to explore the festivities Vancouver and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games had to offer.

That is exactly what happened, however, looking back, much more transpired. We stopped at multiple Vancouver landmarks including statues, sculptures and the sea wall. The sea wall alone took our breath away. City sunk into the ocean as magnificent boats of all shapes cruised by. Rain threatened our ability to document every moment, but we hardly noticed. The excitement had taken hold, and there was no looking back.

Sidenote: Canvas sneakers are not the best choice of footwear for a rainy, chilly northwestern day. We both made that mistake, but I digress.

As we made our way about the city, it was obvious the Olympic Game spirit had taken hold. Languages from near and far could be heard at any moment. Activities and installments were at every corner, including a zip line, oh, the glorious zip line.

Our last stop with MSN for the day was Robson Square, a bustling hotspot jam packed with photo ops and sights galore. Part of this being the aforementioned zip line. We didn't think we would have the opportunity to sore above Vancouver on it, but of course we hoped, and what do you know, wishes came true as we found ourselves climbing the six stories to the top.

Shortly thereafter, we were harnessed up and sent on our way, reaching up to 40 miles per hour, as we raced each other to the other side, six stories in the air. Ethan won, but Lindsay certainly gave him a run for his money. If it were a competition in screaming, she would have come out on top.

Still buzzing from the near flight experience, we enjoyed a lunch before going off on our own to explore our personal version of Vancouver. We walked the city (still cursing our choice in footwear) and found ourselves in awe at every turn of the corner.

As the day wound down, we took the train back to our hotel (kudos Vancouver for having some of the cleanest public trans either of us have ever seen) dried off, and got ready for the night ahead. What did the evening have in store you wonder? One word: Karaoke.

That's right, the USA Samsung Mobile Explorers hit the town and the stage as we all belted out our own versions of noted hits with the help from some choice beverages. Everyone brought their flair, but let's especially tip our hats to Sonia for "Hero," Freddie for, well, everything he did on stage, Nelson for "Hero" (Enrique version) and Jed and Kelly for making The Boss (Springsteen anyone?) proud. I must add, we would like to think our version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" rocked the joint.

Also, we had the best driver in the Pacific Northwest, Duffy (Dufftastic, The Duffster, Duffarooni). Although, her choice of slamming on the breaks at every yellow light left a little something to be desired. That's okay, we still love you Duffy.

Now, the night is winding down. We find ourselves back in our room blogging and editing away. We'll certainly be up late with an early wake up time once again tomorrow, but we don't mind. We'd rather go without sleep than miss any moment this experience has to offer.

Speaking of which, we can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store. Stay tuned, we'll be sure to tell you all about.

Day one. Is this day one? Oh man, we can hardly believe it. Already so much has happened, yet we haven't even begun. We've met so many people. Names swirl around our minds along with the fondness attached to them.

After the initial sinking in of the fact that we're here, we were immediately thrown into meetings, interviews and the Samsung Mobile Explorer experience. We've met so many individuals with their own story to tell. So many perspectives and experiences thrown into one place. We suppose this is what the Olympic Games are all about.

After getting settled into our hotel room, we met with the other USA Samsung Mobile Explorers. It seems we're all in the same boat. So grateful and excited for the experience, yet uncertain of what lies ahead. What are we going to do? What are we going to see? The only thing that is certain at this point is that we need to keep our eyes and ears open for everything.

Yellow jackets emblazoned with Samsung logos swarmed into the ballroom of the hotel with curiosities abounding as the evening rolled on. We sipped on blue Vancouver punch as multiple faces took to the stage. Not to brag, but Ethan Newberry did a great job representing the USA Mobile Explorers, and we thoroughly enjoyed, to say the very least, the other countries as they took the stage.

We laughed along with Kyle from Korea as he prompted the claps, high fived with the Canadians and enjoyed the personalized messages and the amazing video from team China. But certainly, let's not forget Arthur taking the stage to give us his best rendition of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean."

So many memories made already, and it's only the first night. What lies ahead of us? Well, we don't really know, but judging from tonight we will not be disappointed.

For now, we will be hitting the maps to get acclimated to Vancouver, uploading photos to share all we've seen so far and preparing the best we can for what tomorrow brings. Stay tuned, there is so much more to come.

On a side note: We got Canadians to admit that our bacon is far superior. Just sayin'.

Friday, February 12, 2010

1. Where are you originally from and what was the improv scene like there?

I am originally from Princeton, NJ. I don’t know if there was improv there, but I don’t remember seeing any. Maybe it’s time to open IO-NJ.

2. What made you want to start doing improv?

It seemed fun, like playing a game on stage.

3. What stumbling blocks did you have to overcome when you first started studying improv?

Probably all of them. But constant practice and classes can cure anything.

4. How long have you been doing improv?

I don’t remember how long ago I started, but I know FDR and Ulysses S. Grant were in class with me.

5. What’s your favorite part about improvising?

One of my favorite things about improvising is the opportunity to be completely in the moment, focusing only on the scene at hand.

6. What is one of your best memories on stage at iOWest?

One night last October when the entire cast of Opening Night: The Improvised Musical! went down. One person was having a baby, one had just had a baby, someone’s wife was in the hospital and one person was shooting a commercial. Two hours before the show I found that the only people who would be able to do the musical that night were Kerri-Ann Lavin (an understudy) and I. I walked into IO that night an hour and a half before the show, and saw Sean Cowhig, who used to run our lights and had played with us once a year before. He agreed to do the show on the spot. The three of us had a lot of fun flying by the seat of our pants, and trusting we’d work it out. We did.

7. What’s some advice you would give to someone that’s starting out?

Have fun and know that mistakes are part of the deal. Don’t get down about them, learn from them and use them.

8. Who is someone you really look up to in the improv world and why?

Dave Razowsky. He is a super specific player who takes his time. His commitment to every scene is palpable.

9. Other than your own, what is your favorite show at iOWest?

There are so many great shows at IO. Right now I’m loving Beer, Shark, Mice, and Cherry.

10. How do you use improv in your professional life?

In my acting, I use it to help me stay in the moment, and let me know I’ll be OK if I lose my line.

11. If you could sum up iO in one sentence, what would that be?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Needless to say, iO was very much Team Coco, considering that we had people on the writing staff.

I think it was incredible to see fans come together and support in whatever way they thought was needed.

Hundreds of them stood outside NBC affiliates and protested the end of The Tonight Show with Conan O'brien. While many of them stood in the pouring rain, the cynical people asked, "What's the point of them standing outside? Conan's gone anyway."

But that wasn't the point. The point was to show support and by standing outside for hours, they did just that.

I think this kind of grass roots support stemmed from the presidential election. It was Obama.

You saw a demographic that has never had much of a presence in prior elections, come in and really energize the political scene. It was amazing.

It's amazing to see people care so much that they make what matters to them, a top priority.

Seeing the last week of The Tonight Show for me was very bittersweet. It was an end of a legacy that abruptly ended way before its time, but it was also a fantastic way to see Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter trade barbs about the powers that be, in a way that was so honest and refreshing...that it will be a memory I keep for a long time.

For those unfamiliar with the format of the Armando show, I'll break it down for you quickly.

The show has a guest monologist, whom is referred to as "Armando". The Armando of the night will start the show by getting a suggestion from the audience and then do a monologue that they were inspired to do from the suggestion. Then the group of improvisers do scenes inspired from the monologue that Armando just gave.

1. Where are you originally from and what was the improv scene like there?

I’m originally from New Jersey, which didn’t have many Improv choices in my town of Blairstown, so I ended up commuting in and out of the city (NYC) for a few years taking improv classes. When I started, UCB had just started there, and The Second City had just started doing weekend intensives, so it had just started popping.

2. What made you want to start doing improv?

I always loved making people laugh, and a couple people said I should go to Second City. I called Beth Kligerman of The Second City asking her to audition, not having any idea what the place was about just amazing comedic actors started there, along with Chris Farley, who I pretty much idolized. She was very kind and said they don’t work like that, so she sent me info about up coming classes with Martin de Maat. I took that one class and never stopped.

3. What stumbling blocks did you have to overcome when you first started studying improv?

Wondering if what I am doing in a scene is right.

4. How long have you been doing improv?

About 10 years.

5. What’s your favorite part about improvising?

Being able to go anywhere, be anything, have anything. It is very liberating to be an actor with an absolutely infinite budget.

6. What is one of your best memories on stage at iOWest?

Every time I get on stage with Upstate and Cherry, I really just love playing with all of those guys and gals.

7. What’s some advice you would give to someone that’s starting out?

Improvise as much as possible. iO is a place you can actually practice your craft, and all the resources are right there, between finding a great coach, to signing up to play in the Cage Match, or Cherry Crush (a show I am in), or a show in the Loft, and the biggest resource, a crap load of people that want to do the same thing as you.

8. Who is someone you really look up to in the improv world and why?

There are so many great teachers…Craig Cackowski, James Grace, Dave Razowski, Dave Hill just to name a few. I really love a ton of people around IO who geek out about improv. All of Dasariski, and why…just watch their show. 9. Other than your own, what is your favorite show at iOWest?

Dasariski. I think DHT is great. They are such a fun group to watch on stage, a great chemistry and sense of play that makes it look easy. But when you watch them, you really see they are working trying to create something original. They discover in each Harold what The Opening is, The Scenes are and what The Show is, and to me discovery is absolute key.

10. How do you use improv in your professional life?

I am an actor, so in auditions it’s about making a decision and commit! And when the director says “Try this.” It is always “Sure!”, “Of coarse!”, “Absolutely!”, always Yes AND…

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

1. Where are you originally from and what was the improv scene like there?

I am from Lincoln Nebraska and the most improv done there was making up a line in the high school play to make your friends laugh.

2. What made you want to start doing improv?

I went to second city and iO in Chicago and thought they were magicians or something. I auditioned for a social issues improv ensemble and got cast but they said I had to learn the rules. It was more gang violence and less ha-ha.

3 What stumbling blocks did you have to overcome when you first started studying improv?

I was super afraid of silence, I loved ironic racism and dick jokes. I still have stumbling blocks every day. I’ve learned patience, which is important. I also had a tough time being vulnerable and when it came to vulnerability I always went for the joke. Learning self confidence was a big hurdle too. I still love dick jokes.

4. How long have you been doing improv?

I did the social issues stuff in 2004, but I started studying actual long form 2007.

5. What’s your favorite part about improvising?

The community and laughing. Dick jokes.

6. What is one of your best memories on stage at iOWest?

I played with Aaron Krebs and Bertrando during the lottery, they made me look good and taught me that if you make bold decisions a good improviser has your back.

7. What’s some advice you would give to someone that’s starting out?

Don’t be to hard on your self and remember to have fun.

8. Who is someone you really look up to in the improv world and why?

Theres so many… James Grace is super honest as a performer, Bertrando is fearless, Suzi Barrett is a genius, and the entire team of USS rock n roll is what an ensemble should be.

9. Other than your own, what is your favorite show at iOWest?

Sweetness… and everybody else on Tuesday. King 10.

10. How do you use improv in your professional life?

I edit film… so just understanding the flow of comedy, the pacing, the buttons. Dick Jokes.

This is your chance to ask them what you've always wanted ask! Dasariski is also giving you an opportunity to dissect their show -- what worked for you? What didn't work? Our favorite improvisers are prepared to hear what you think!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

The Lampshades at the iO is a hilarious spoof of lounge act shows performed by Scot Robinson and Kate Flannery, who plays Meredith on "The Office". The Lampshades returns this Saturday, February 6that 8 pm. Back in December, I had the opportunity to talk to Kate Flannery about The Lampshades, her training in improv, and how she uses improv on the set of the T.V. show "The Office".

Jimmy Mac: Can you tell me a little bit about how you guys got the idea for the [Lampshades] show?

Kate Flannery: We were in Chicago, so long ago... I wanna say, '93? And we were at a club that had a lot of great music acts, and it was one of those places that has white tablecloths, and everybody ... a lot of people kind of tickled us, like they took themselves a little too seriously. I think we kind of enjoyed that. We started to do a set a weekend at the Annoyance on Friday and Saturday nights, but we did it while people were coming in to see another show. It was like, the house lights were up, and we were just at the foot of the stage, and we would do three songs, the same songs on Fridays and Saturdays, and the next weekend we'd work on two new songs, until we felt we had enough to perform for the act. That's basically how it started.

JMac: Great. Can you tell me about your improv training, and if there were some improvisers who you looked up to, and who inspired you?

KF: Well, I moved to Chicago after I came out to visit, to audition for the training center at Second City. I just really wanted to be funny, and I think I was there for about three months, and I remember going back, and a writer on Conan told me about Improv Olympic. ... I have to say that before I moved there, the weekend I auditioned for Second City, I saw Bonnie Hunt on the Mainstage during an improv set, and she showed up in a wedding dress. She got married that day, and she came after the wedding. I was like, my brain almost couldn't figure out what I was seeing. ... She had literally just gotten married, and I thought, that is amazing. Talk about ultimate freedom. Crazy, but really ultimate freedom... There's something so smart about what everyone was doing in Chicago. I thought, "What a great place to be." It's the real training, the real foundation. And I feel like all this improv benefits my writing and everyone else's writing and it helps with patterns, and actually, I think Del, I was so scared of Del. I always heard that he didn't like women. And he didn't. [Laughs]

JMac: [Laughs] So that's where this whole stigma comes from.

KF: Yeah, that's kind of true. He was hard on me, he was so hard on everybody, and I felt like Susan Messing was the only woman that he actually respected when we were there. But I kept going back ... and I almost felt like, "I'll show you," and I don't think that I needed to show him, but I needed to show myself. At some point, I just needed to stop worrying about him. I just remember that occasionally Chris Farley would step into my class, and I remember he really made an impression on me ... because I thought, you don't graduate improv, that you always have to work at it, and it doesn't happen by itself. You don't just reach a point, and then never have to work at it again. It's a muscle. And that's why I have so much respect for the Beer Shark Mice guys, who don't stop. We've been doing The Lampshades for eight years now. We did it for five years straight, and... the whole thing isn't improvised, but it's based out of improv, and I feel like we have points that we get to, but sometimes we don't know exactly how we're gonna get there. And it's such a joy to perform with Scott, who it doesn't matter how far we get off track, how far we go, we trust our characters, we trust each other, you know? We always know that we're gonna end up in a good place. And sometimes a train wreck turns out better than anything we could have written anyway. And then we go, "Whoa! Okay." We perfom in other venues, too, but I always feel like it's more of a commercial for us, because sometimes we don't get a whole lot of time to improvise. It's always unusual being in other spaces, because it always affects the work no matter what. You know, the songs are set, but usually what's between is kind of a free-for-all.

JMac: Yeah, this is my third time seeing and I've noticed sometimes it's more of a stretch getting back on track, but it's always funny to see it happen. Can you tell me how you've applied the principles of improv to your work on The Office and also maybe in your life?

KF: I think that making your first declaration really sticks you to it, and heightening it, and not worrying that wasn't the right thing to do. Because I really feel that it takes two people to make a scene. You know, no matter what head-strong thing I have going on, it will always get knocked out. I mean, I think that's a great thing, because I don't know shit. I really don't. And other people will tell you who you are in a scene, and if you don't let them, that's going to be a terrible scene. You know, and also, you don't talk about what you're doing, uh, which is kind of a relief. I don't know. I feel like as far as The Office, sometimes I only have a little window to improvise in, and that means that sometimes I have seven words in the script, and sometimes I only have one word in the script, and I've learned that if I stick to those seven words, I can change those seven words, but I have to get those seven words right, because what happens is you, as a character, have a function, and if you try to change the function, it usually doesn't really work. I mean, especially the way that our show's set up right now, the writing's so great, that if you say something crazy, it doesn't always get used. Occasionally it does, and occasionally I've had something and I'd kinda heighten it to the point where they couldn't cut it out. Which is rare. ... what I think is hilarious in my mind isn't always better than what is written. ... And also, understanding and respecting the game that's set up for a show. You know, there are patterns that you have to respect, and if you don't respect them, it doesn't work....I feel like it's a privelege to improvise in front of these people, because that's when you really... that's when you find out how you navigate. [One of the theater patrons hands Kate a CD for his band and asks her to come out to his show.] See? It's a privelege to be invited to someone's show, as well as to invite someone to your show. You know what I mean? If you really are serious about doing this work, and you love it, you don't graduate. I don't know, I just think... it's been such a gift. And I just hope that all the people who come to L.A. don't just look at all the commercials, I mean, you don't have to go to Chicago, but if you do, you gotta go to iO.

JMac: So are there any other projects that you're working on?

KF: I'm going to the Second City 50th Anniversary. I've got a panel with Scott Adsitt and Jennifer Greer, and I'm very excited. I feel like it's so great to be a part of that history, and it's such an honor to be, you know ... there are so many people that I respect and admire. It's gonna be an SCTV reunion show that Friday, and then an alumni show that Saturday. There's a lot of people that I knew there in Chicago that I had no idea were capable of what they're doing now, you know? You never know, man, you never know! It's who you'd least expect, you know? It's pretty great.

These classes will be taught by IO’s own Rebecca Sage Allen and Bridget Kloss. There will be a performance on IO WEST’s Mainstage on April 9th for family and friends. Classes are limited to 12 students, so sign up while there are still slots available!

Friday, February 5, 2010

Written in the shadows of the i.O. West mainstage is a sentiment for all improvisors t see before they perform: "If it feels stupid, do it more."

My example of the week: these kids. The video, called "stupiD danCe" features three kids dancing bizarrely to an even more disturbingly-catchy tune. Although at first hesitant to watch the video due to the fourth-grader-using-AIM-for-the-first-time capitalization of random letters in the title, I clicked, and watched in amazement as 1 minute and 32 seconds of my life was spent watching nonsensical gyrations.

Which I realized...is just the point. If one of the lessons of improvising is to become like a child, these hip-moving hipsters hit the nail on it's bike helmet-wearing head. It felt stupid, so they did it more.

Clearly, it's an inhibition-less plea to strip away all safe guards, and commit with naturalistic flair to any series of foolish actions while on stage. After all, the safe road never created the world's best artists. But here in Los Angeles, isn't appearance everything? The way we dress, act, and who we associate ourselves with seems to permeate all distinctions of coolness, particularly on sultry weekend nights on Hollywood Blvd. (How do they fit into skirts that small?)

Bringing family members and friends to a show of yours is hopefully an impressive outing, one in which glitzy skills of the craft can rise to the surface. I can see where the "safe road" option while performing is appealing: saying all the funny lines, busting out the cool dance moves, and playing the character who is a Fonzi & Barney Stinson hybrid.

But maybe, just maybe, it is the absurd that turns heads. After Michael Jackson's death, L.A. Weekly referred to him as "fabulously fucking weird", not "on average normal". Maybe it's not the cool, suave all-knowing performers who are remembered, but rather the bizarre creatures bred out of the depths of inner turmoil and mental rarities. The willingness to break down the barriers of a "tough-guy" physique could have it's payoffs. Who knows?

iO West is welcoming Dave Holmes as a special guest with Dr. God on February 12th at 10 pm. Dave Holmes was recently named as one of NPR's 10 Favorite People of 2009, an honor he shares with the likes of Jane Lynch and Neil Patrick Harris. He also hosts the Friday Forty at iO West.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Congratulations to Fairfax Prep (formerly Kitty Porn) performers Lindsay Harbert and Ethan Newberry who have been chosen by Samsung to travel to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics to compete against 4 other teams in the Samsung Mobile Explorers competition! Keep your eyes peeled for their blogs during the games!